À minuit fut fait un réveil
This carol was composed by Pierre Dandrieu (1664-1733) and was first published circa 1714.
À minuit fut fait un réveil
At Midnight There was an Awakening
Chanson de Noël
Christmas Carol
(French)
(English)
À minuit fut fait un réveil,
À minuit fut fait un réveil,
Jamais n'en fut ouï* un pareil,
Jamais n'en fut ouï un pareil,
Au pays de Judée,
Au pays de Judée,
Noël !
Au pays de Judée.
Les pasteurs s'étaient endormis
Les pasteurs s'étaient endormis
Veillant leurs moutons et brebis,
Veillant leurs moutons et brebis,
Le long des vertes prées*
Le long des vertes prées,
Noël !
Le long des vertes prées.
Ébahis furent grandement
Ébahis furent grandement
Quand en moins d'un petit moment
Quand en moins d'un petit moment
Ouïrent* comme une armée,
Ouïrent comme une armée,
Noël !
Ouïrent comme une armée.
C'étaient plusieurs anges des cieux
C'étaient plusieurs anges des cieux,
Qui faisaient un bruit merveilleux,
Qui faisaient un bruit merveilleux,
Tant devant que derrière,
Tant devant que derrière,
Noël !
Tant devant que derrière.
Entre autres était Gabriel
Entre autres était Gabriel,
Messager du Roi éternel,
Messager du Roi éternel,
Parlant telle manière,
Parlant telle manière,
Noël !
Parlant telle manière.
Ne craignez point, mes bons amis
Ne craignez point, mes bons amis,
Pour vous annoncer, suis transmis,
Pour vous annoncer, suis transmis
La paix universelle,
La paix universelle,
Noël !
La paix universelle.
En Bethléem le trouverez
En Bethléem le trouverez
En une étable, où le verrez
En une étable, où le verrez,
Couché entre deux bestes*,
Couché entre deux bestes,
Noël !
Couché entre deux bestes.
At midnight there was an awakening,
At midnight there was an awakening,
Nobody had ever heard its like,
Nobody had ever heard its like,
In the land of Judea,
In the land of Judea,
Christmas!
In the land of Judea.
The shepherds had fallen asleep,
The shepherds had fallen asleep,
Watching over their ewes and sheep,
Watching over their ewes and sheep,
All along the green meadows,
All along the green meadows,
Christmas!
All along the green meadows.
They were greatly astonished,
They were greatly astonished,
When, in less than a short moment,
When, in less than a short moment
They heard a sound like an army,
They heard a sound like an army,
Christmas!
They heard a sound like an army.
There were several angels from heaven,
There were several angels from heaven
Who were making a wonderful noise,
Who were making a wonderful noise
All in front, as well as behind,
All in front, as well as behind,
Christmas!
All in front, as well as behind.
Among them was Gabriel,
Among them was Gabriel,
Messenger of the everlasting King,
Messenger of the everlasting King,
Speaking like this,
Speaking like this,
Christmas!
Speaking like this...
"Do not fear, my good friends,
Do not fear, my good friends,
I am sent to announce to you,
I am sent to announce to you
Universal peace,
Universal peace,
Christmas!
Universal peace!"
In Bethlehem you'll find him,
In Bethlehem you'll find him,
In a stable, where you'll see him,
In a stable, where you'll see him,
Lying between two beasts,
Lying between two beasts,
Christmas!
Lying between two beasts.
Notes
*"Ouï", "ouïrent" from the verb "ouïr" meaning "to hear", in disuse;
"prée" - meaning wide meadow, in disuse;
"beste" - old spelling for the currently used word "bête".
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Monique and Lisa. Midi and score by Monique. Photo taken in a church in Lautrec by Monique.
Merci beaucoup !
